Why Digital Literacy Is the Foundation for AI Literacy

Researchers from Tallinn University of Technology examined 25 studies on digital, data, and AI literacy. Their conclusion aligns precisely with what we at CivAI have been advocating for years. Digital literacy is not just another skill alongside the rest; it turns out to be the foundation upon which data and AI literacy are further built.

Data literacy and AI literacy require more specific knowledge. But without a solid digital foundation, no one gets there. The research, published in Information Polity, identifies three layers that recur in all three forms of literacy: technical skills, critical thinking, and the ability to truly communicate and engage with technology.

According to the researchers, this third layer—the communicative and cognitive aspect—still receives too little attention. Yet it is precisely this layer that determines whether people use AI with confidence and common sense. Think of recognising bias, navigating friction with a chatbot, and safeguarding your own boundaries when faced with technology that can sound very convincing.

For exactly this reason, we at CivAI provide AI literacy training for all our products: GovGPT, EduGPT, OrgGPT, and CareGPT. Every quarter, delivered by our CivAI certified trainers, so that knowledge remains up to date and grows along with the pace at which AI itself changes.

Source

Polomoshnov, J., Masso, A. and Lobanova, K. (2026). Comparing Digital, Data, and AI Literacy: A Narrative Review. Information Polity, 31(1), 13-26. Read the full study.

Illustrative image, created with AI